General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsPope Francis politely shades Trumps climate ignorance with a parting gift
Pope Francis and President Donald Trump had their much anticipated first in-person meeting on Wednesday, a 30-minute conversation in which the pope reportedly did not smile as he asked the president to work to bring about peace in the world. Despite concern that the two leaders who hold diametrically opposite views on several issues might spar during the summit, the exchange appeared to be relatively free of fireworks.
But according to the National Catholic Reporter, Francis did offer Trump a none-too-subtle parting gift as he left: copies of the pontiffs published works on progressive economics, climate change, and nonviolence.
Almost all of the documents Francis presented to Trump conflict with the presidents agenda in some way (with the possible exception of Amoris Laetitia, a 2016 work on the Catholic churchs developing view of family life).
For example, Francis gave Trump a copy of Laudato Si, the popes famous encyclical on the environment that was published in 2015.
Unlike Trump, who once claimed climate change is a hoax invented by the Chinese, Francis encyclical affirms that global warming has been confirmed by a very consistent scientific consensus and that humans are the cause. And while Trump has proposed budget cuts to climate initiatives and threatened to rescind Americas participation in the historic Paris Climate Accords, Francis Laudato Si insists nations take steps to reduce carbon emissions.
https://thinkprogress.org/francis-trump-meet-c9c5a61617e8
niyad
(113,318 posts)he wrote?
Sugar Smack
(18,748 posts)What? He gave Trump What? But....why? I thought he knew what this guy was.
Whatever the gesture's message, it was far too subtle for old "Easy D".
tanyev
(42,559 posts)MineralMan
(146,317 posts)He doesn't like to read. It hurts his brain to read. So, I'm afraid the Pope didn't accomplish much with his gifts to The Donald.
But, in not smiling, he did send a message, perhaps. Except that Donald doesn't actually read people's faces, either. He's pretty much oblivious to everything around him.